Max Verstappen wins F1 Abu Dhabi GP from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as Norris secures 2025 drivers’ world champion.
It was a clean start to F1 Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina circuit, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen covered off McLaren’s Lando Norris in Turn 1. But the Brit took it cautiously not just at the start but in Turn 9 as well, when it allowed Oscar Piastri to get past him to second.
The Australian started on the hard compound in a different strategy. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, as both managed to clear Mercedes’ George Russell, who dropped to sixth. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto hung onto seventh as he started.
Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar gained a place to be eighth from Haas’ Esteban Ocon, as Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda kept 10th despite the push from Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson. There were couple of moments noted by the steward of gaining an advantage at the back, but all were cleared.
The initial phase saw Leclerc hurry Norris for third, with the Brit maintaining pace much like Piastri ahead. Russell managed to clear Alonso for fifth. Outside the Top 10, the soft runners – Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg & Williams’ Alexander Albon – pitted on Lap 8.
Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson and Haas’ Oliver Bearman were noted for erratic driving, where the Kiwi was handed a 5s time penalty. They were in the pack led by Hadjar in the fight for eighth, with Ocon and Tsunoda also in the frame. But not for long as Hadjar pitted on Lap 15.
It was an early stop not just for Hadjar but also Russell and Bearman. Bortoleto did so on Lap 16. The Lap 17 saw pit stop for Norris, Leclerc and Alonso to keep track position. The Brit had traffic to fend off though and he picked them up as soon as possible until he arrived behind Tsunoda.
The likes of Leclerc and Russell followed suit in passing cars. Norris caught up Tsunoda and made the move on the left of the Japanese after the Red Bull driver tried to block him. The move was put under investigation, as Verstappen pitted on Lap 24, with Piastri going long.
The move off track was being looked at, while forcing another driver was being investigated as well. Tsunoda was handed a 5s penalty for weaving and multiple changes of lines, as Norris was cleared for leaving the track and gaining an advantage for his move on the Japanese driver.
It was Piastri in the lead going long with Verstappen in the net lead from Norris, but losing the F1 title. Leclerc was fourth from Russell, with Aston Marti’s Lance Stroll in sixth – having not stopped. Alonso was back to seventh from Bortoleto, with Ocon ninth from Bearman in the Top 10.
Albon was handed 5s time penalty for speeding in the pitlane. The second stop saw Leclerc do so on Lap 40, with Norris following him to cover him. After Verstappen caught him and passed him on track, Piastri pitted on Lap 42 for his first and potentially the last stop in the grand prix.
Stroll finally pitted on Lap 43 for the first time. Alonso was back sixth from Ocon, Bearman, Bortoleto and Hulkenberg 10th, but Hamilton got through both the Sauber cars and Bearman to move up to eighth. He had both Ocon and Alonso in his sights for sixth place.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was handed 5s for track limits. The fight for points heated up as Hamilton tried a move on Ocon but it didn’t work as the Frenchman got past him in the fight for seventh. The fight got 10th had Bortoleto defending from Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Stroll.
The Canadian passed the Spaniard and eventually got Bortoleto. At the front, Verstappen took the F1 win in Abu Dhabi GP by 12.594s gap over Piastri, as Norris’ third place was enough to secure the 2025 drivers’ world championship by two points on the Dutchman.
Leclerc was fourth from Russell, as Alonso was sixth from Ocon and Hamilton. Behind, it changed until after the chequered flag. Initially, Stroll fought back into ninth to demote Bearman to 10th on the final lap. But the Canadian was handed a 5s time penalty for his move against Sainz.
He was charged for multiple weaving on the racing line. He dropped to 11th allowing Hulkenberg to be 10th behind Bearman. But there was another 5s penalty for Bearman for weaving and it dropped him to 12th. It promoted Hulkenberg to ninth and Stroll back in points in 10th.
Outside the points, Bortoleto was 11th from Bearman, Sainz, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Albon, Hadjar, Lawson, Gasly and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto to round out the 20 finishers – everyone from Hadjar until Colapinto finished a lap down.
